My Number One

My "Wednesday's Words" go out to you today Eric...happy early birthday!

I was reading in A Mother's Book of Secrets by Linda Eyre and Shawni Eyre Pothier and I came across this paragraph that I just loved because I can totally relate (except for the husband named Dave - just substitute Eric in his place).

"I love being a mother with all my heart-commotion and all.  I love to kiss those kids' cheeks and snuggle up to read bedtime stories together.  But as much as I adore those kids, Dave is my "number one".  My sweetheart.  My lover.  My best friend.  And when I'm a shriveled up little old lady, I want to remember this: he was my first priority.  He's the one who lights up my heart with something as little as giving me a wink across the dinner table commotion.  He's the one I'd rather be with than anyone else in the world."

Eric, thanks for being my number one!  I love being with you...especially when we are in the middle of the commotion together and we just look at each other and smile :)

Thank You Teachers!

Yeah for Kaylee and Aaron.  Friday will be their last day of second and first grade.  They have both done excellent this year and worked really hard.  I am so proud of all that they accomplished!  Kaylee has a perfect report card and Aaron is reading at a third grade level.  Way to go guys!  Now I need a game plan for getting through the 3 month Summer break...YIKES!

They both had great teachers.  Here is what we are going to give them with a thank you card.

A small jar filled with M&Ms with the following poem:

For all the things you are and do...

You are magnificent & marvelous

You are meticulous & merciful

You are a mentor & manager

You are a motivator & magician

You make miracles & memories

Just as this jar, it is clear to see,

You are an m&m to Aaron and me!

A package of pudding cups with a note that says:

Thanks for

Puddin’

up with me this year!

Muffin Top Madness

Happy Memorial Day!  I was able to sneak away for a few minutes between preparing our BBQ and homemade ice cream...YUM!

Well, it has been 8 weeks since I had my baby and my lovely "muffin top" still remains.  I am sure that the homemade ice cream doesn't help, but I am tired of not being able to fit into my clothes.  Oh pre-pregnancy body; why did I criticize you so?  Come back to me...I'm sorry!!!  Who came up with the term "muffin top" anyway?  The muffin tops are the best part of the muffin...and my "muffin top" is definitely not the best part of my body!!  This flabby bulge needs a new name...any ideas?

Patience=Success

Patience is something that I really struggle with.  Sad to say, I usually find myself becoming impatient with those who I should be the most patient with...my kids.  A few weeks ago, Eric taught a great Family Home Evening lesson about patience and how we really need to be patient with each other as a family.  Here is a scripture from the Book of Mormon that he shared:

Alma 26:27...Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

Sometimes as a mother I find myself a little depressed or discouraged and I want to just go away and lock myself in my room or "turn back".  But I have noticed that when I stop to ask Heavenly Father for help, He comforts me and I am able to "go amongst" my kids with more patience.  When I lose my cool in those frustrating moments of kicking, screaming, pouting, begging, whining, and fighting it only adds fuel to the fire and we all end up mad.  On the other hand, when I am patient, we have success in having a more happy family....Man, it sure is hard sometimes though!

Beatboxing to books

One of the best book investments that we have made are the Sesame Street books A-Z.  There is a board book for each letter and each book has a short story or rhyme focusing on that letter.  If you turn the book over, they all connect to make a big floor puzzle with a picture of Big Bird with an item starting with each letter of the alphabet.


My kids have all loved them and I think that it really gave them a head start to their reading because they learned their letters so fast.  Nathan can identify every letter in the alphabet.  He loves to hear them at bedtime.  Eric has started a new tradition of beatboxing while reading these books to Nathan.  There is nothing like a little rap/beatbox to put a kid to bed!  Now Nathan may have a beatboxing career ahead of him because I will catch him "a-pooh-pooh-choo"ing several times a day.  It is SO funny to hear and he even has some sweet moves to go along with it.

What are your kid's favorite books?

Neighbors and Homemade Oreo Cookies

After going to Little Bishop Chronicles, I wanted to post something funny that Nathan, my 2 year old, said:  He wanted to say the prayer the other night at dinner.  My husband was helping him and here is how it went:
Eric would say the words which Nathan would repeat.  Dear Heavenly Father.  Thank thee for the food.  Thank thee for our family.  Thank thee for our neighbors....(long pause), then before repeating the last one, Nathan looked up at Eric and asked in a cute, confused little voice "What's neighbors?"  We all started to laugh.  It was hard to get through the rest of the prayer.

Here are the homemade Oreos that we made for our garage/bake sale last weekend.  They are SO YUMMY and a definite crowd pleaser!  I usually double the recipe because we like to share them with our neighbors.

Homemade Oreos
1 box devil's food cake mix (Betty Crocker brand works well)
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs

In a large bowl combine cake mix, butter, and eggs.  Chill about 10 minutes.  Roll into small balls and place on baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.  Cool and frost with cream cheese frosting: (this makes enough for a double batch)

1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together.  Add the powdered sugar and mix.  If the frosting is too thick, add a little milk (1 tsp at a time) until it is thick and spreadable.  Spread filling on top of cookie, and then top with another cookie.

Enjoy!

Goin' on a Bear Hunt

Today for our Thursday's Thriller, we went on a Bear Hunt.  I made some binoculars out of a toilet paper roll cut in half and taped together.  I got Nathan dressed in his hunting gear with a backpack (stocked with crackers), hat, binoculars, and a flashlight.  Then I hid a teddy bear in a dark room/cave and we were ready for our hunt.  Here are the lyrics of a fun bear hunt.  You say one line and then the kids repeat it:

Cool Bear Hunt

Chorus: We're going on a bear hunt. 

            We're going to catch a big one,

With big green eyes,

And a fuzzy little tail.

Look over there. 

It's a candy factory. 

Can't go over it. 

Can't go under it. 

Can't go around it. 

Guess we'll go through it.

Yum, yum, yum, yummmm. (Chorus)

Look over there.

It's a peanut butter river

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Guess we'll swim through it.

(Grunts as you swim through the PB) (Chorus)

Look over there. 

It's a Jell-o swamp

Can't go over it.

Can't go under it.

Can't go around it.

Guess we'll go through it.

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle (Chorus)

Look over there. 

It's a cave. . .

It's cold in here. 

I see two big green eyes, 

And a fuzzy little tail. 

It's a bear! 

Go through the Jell-o swamp. 

Swim across the peanut butter river. 

Go through the candy factory.

Run home. 

Open the door. Shut the door. 

We went on a bear hunt, 

And we weren't afraid!

After our bear hunt, when we were safe inside again, we had some crackers for a snack.  If I were more prepared today we would have had candy, peanut butter, and 
jell-o...Oh-well.  Later Nathan, the fierce hunter, took a nap with his prey.